Simulated firecracker



Oct. 21, 1958 L. J. WEISMANTEL 2,

SIMULATED FIRECRACKER Filed July 23, 1957 INVENTOR.

LEO J. WEISMANTEL BY CORBET'R MAHONEY. MILLE R &

RA BO- AT Z15 BY M I K United States Patent Ofiice 2,856,732 Patented Oct. 21, 1958 SIMULATED FIRECRACKER Leo J. Weismantel, Lancaster, Ohio Application July 23, 1957, Serial No. 673,606

3 Claims. (Cl. 46-174) My invention relates to a simulated firecracker. It has to do, more particularly, with a device which will have the appearance of a large firecracker and which will produce a loud noise without the inherent dangers of the usual firecrackers, both as to fire and injury to person.

According to my invention, I provide a large housing which preferably has the appearance of a large firecracker. Associated with this housing, I provide an inflated toy balloon which is so arranged in the housing that, when broken, it will produce a substantial noise not only due to the breaking of the balloon itself but to the sounding board effect of the housing. Piercing of the balloon is accomplished in a novel manner which will be interesting to the child or other person using the simulated firecracker. Thus, the thrill and pleasure occasioned by setting off actual firecrackers are retained but the device is completely safe as there is no danger of burns to the person using the device, or other injury to the person due to an explosive elfect. Also, there is no danger of damage to property.

My device is extremely simple and inexpensive and can be used repeatedly since the main part which must be replaced is the toy balloon and, as is well-known, toy balloons are relatively inexpensive.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention but it is to be understood that details thereof may be varied.

In these drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a simulated firecracker according to my invention, the actuating device in this form being an ignitable fuse.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the device of Figure 1 showing the inflated balloon in place.

Figure 3 is a modification of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2.

With particular reference to the drawings, in Figures 1 and 2 I have illustrated my device as comprising a substantially cylindrical housing which is preferably made of cardboard or other cheap material and which is preferably colored red to look like the ordinary firecracker. The top of the housing is provided with a removable cover 11 which preferably slips over the upper end of the body 10 and frictionally engages the body. This top may be of metal or fireproof material, if desired. The side of the housing is provided with a hinged door which is preferably held closed resiliently by means of a spring 13 associated with the housing 10.

The top edge of the housing 10 is provided with a narrow slit 14 for receiving the throat 15 of an inflatable balloon 16. This balloon 16 may be of the usual toy type made of rubber or plastic. When the neck of the balloon is in the slot 14 and the cover 11 is positioned on the upper end of the housing 10, the throat will be securely held in the slot. The slot will be sufliciently narrow so that it will grip the throat and form an air-tight seal so as to ordinarily prevent deflation of the balloon.

To break the balloon so as to produce a loud noise,

a fuse arrangement is preferably provided. This fuse arrangement comprises a small ignitable fuse 17 which is passed downwardly through an opening in the cover 11. The inner end of the fuse is disposed in engagement with the top of the balloon 16, as indicated at 18. The fuse is frictionally held in the receiving opening in the cover 11 and can be removed and replaced .after it has burnt. Furthermore, by removing the cover 11, the broken balloon can be replaced with another inflated balloon. Also, the door 12 will permit access to the interior of the housing 10 when desired and will open slightly upon breaking of the balloon to permit air to rush from the housing to prevent the cover 11 from being blown off.

In the use of this device, the inflated balloon 16 is positioned, as indicated in Figure 2, and the fuse 17 is positioned as indicated with its inner end in contact with the balloon. Now, when the fuse 17 is ignited, it will burn down through the cover 11 until the fire reaches the balloon 16 which will result in the balloon breaking and producing a loud noise, especially because it is confined within the housing and the sound will be reflected by the housing. No parts of the balloon will fly from the housing since the housing completely shields the balloon. The fuse will contain such a small portion of combustible matter that there will be no danger of the housing igniting even if it is made of inflammable material. However, it can be made or treated so that it will be non-inflammable.

Thus, the appearance and noise of a firecracker will be retained without the inherent dangers thereof. The broken balloon may be easily replaced by removing the lid 11 and inserting the neck of another inflated balloon in the slit 14, replacing the cover 11. Before replacing the cover, a new fuse is inserted in the opening therein.

In Figure 3, I have provided a different arrangement. In this form, I provide upper and lower housing sections 10a of identical form. These are each of substantially cup-like form with their open ends disposed towards each other. An elongated substantially cylindrical balloon 16a is inflated and has its ends tightly fitted in the opposed housing sections 10a. The upper housing section 10a is provided in its disc-like upper end 11a with an opening for receiving a fuse 17a. When this fuse is ignited, it will burn down and when the fire contacts the balloon 16a, the balloon will be broken with a loud noise. Thus, the balloon 16a, in effect, serves as part of the housing to obtain the appearance of a firecracker. When it is broken, the device may be reassembled by using a new inflated balloon 16a which has its neck 15a sealed by a rubber band or other member.

With this modified device, the appearance of the firecracker is preserved and a loud noise is produced upon burning of the fuse.

It will be apparent from the above description that in all forms of my device the appearance and noise of a firecracker is simulated. However, the inherent dangers in an ordinary firecracker, which might result in injury to a person or property, are completely eliminated.

Various other advantages will be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A simulated firecracker device comprising a housing, means for supporting an inflated balloon in association with the housing, and means for supporting an ignitable fuse on the housing in contact with the inflated balloon so that burning of the fuse will break the balloon.

2. A simulated firecracker device comprising a cylindrical housing having a slit in its upper end for receiving the neck of an inflated balloon which will be disposed within the housing, a cover for the housing, and means on the cover for breaking the balloon, said means comprising an ignitable fuse projecting outside the cover and engaging the balloon within the cover.

3. A simulated firecracker device comprising two opposed cup-shaped housings which receive the opposite ends of an elongated inflated balloon, and means on one of the housings for breaking the balloon, said means comprising an ignitable fuse carried by one of the housings and having its inner end in contact with the inflated balloon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Kiriyama Apr. 16, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 25, 1929 

